Why wet sanding

Even-Out New Paint Sometimes new paint needs a few touchups, and the wet-sanding technique is an effective way to even-out new paint. This process will make your vehicle appear to be in pristine condition and is often used with professional automotive detailers. Level Touch-Ups for Easy Polishing Wet-sanding is also used to level touch-ups on your vehicle, which makes the polishing process much easier.

Of course, it always important to use a professional that specializes in wet-sanding, as trying to do this on your own is a risky process that can permanently damage the paint job on your vehicle.

I usually go in this order: 60, 80, , There are a lot more details, though, so lets dive in! Wet Sanding Dry Sanding Removes less material Removes more material Uses lubricant usually water No lubricant required Reduces mess Significant mess Takes more time Takes less time Uses higher grit sandpaper Uses lower grit sandpaper Produces super smooth finish Produces smooth finish Done by hand Done by hand or with power tool At a glance, wet sanding and dry sanding do basically the same thing — they both remove material to create a smoother surface.

When Should You Wet Sand? If you have a lot of material to remove, then dry sanding is probably a better choice. But wet sanding is great for smoothing out the final coat of wood finish! Should You Wet Sand Drywall? Can You Wet Sand Primer? The answer? Cars are another very popular object for this method.

Many autobody shops will do this to remove deep car scratches. It's also used when painting a car to remove any dust or other particles that may have landed on a fresh coat of paint, and fix other imperfections from a recent paint job like orange peel.

If you need help deciding if this sanding method is the correct method for you or what to do before you begin, we can help. Here are the most commonly asked questions regarding how to wetsand.

Both wet and dry sanding have their benefits. Dry is excellent for initially smoothing a material, whereas using a wet sandpaper can drastically improve upon the smoothness while removing scratches. Depending on the type of material you're working with determines which sanding method is better for you. Dry will do most of the hard work that's usually necessary. Wet will make the surface look and feel professionally made with a cleaner and glossier surface. The wet sanding process is also most helpful for many interior projects when your goal is to minimize how much of a mess you make.

For example, if you're sanding drywall, you can drastically reduce the amount of dust and other particles that can get trapped inside or float through the air throughout your house. It is necessary when you want the project you're working on to have an ultra glossy finish without skipping any steps.

Lots of times you can skip this step, but it's almost always going to be noticeable in the end. You may wind up being upset with your end results and may want to go back to fix the mistake, which will add a lot more time to the process. It is entirely up to what you are working on and the look you want though. Many people wish to have this type of glossy finish on their car, furniture, or wooden guitars.

Wet sanding is likely not necessary if you'd prefer a matte or brushed finish. If you want to have this glossy finish, you'll dry sand first and then wet sand. You can always finish off by buffing and polishing if you want to reach a mirror-like finish. You won't want to use regular sandpaper sheets for wet sanding. The abrasive grit on regular sandpaper loads up with the material being sanded. This, plus the grains, will usually cause more scratches on the material.

You'll want to use sandpaper that's made specifically for this method. There is wet dry sandpaper made with silicon carbide abrasives that can be used for both types of sanding, wet or dry.

The backing is made out of latex, rather than cloth or paper, to keep it intact throughout the process and help avoid loading. Paste wood filler, top center , makes a smooth foundation for the finish. Wet-sand with a simple solution of liquid detergent and water, left , using a rubber sanding block, bottom center.

Polish with an automotive wax, bottom right. When using open-grained woods, such as oak, ash, mahogany or walnut, fill the pores by applying a paste wood filler like J. Moser's Grain-Fil. See the Buying Guide at the end of the article. Use a plastic scraper, working across the grain, to pack the filler into the pores as shown in Photo A. Remove excess with a squeegee, once again working across the grain, as shown in Photo B , to avoid pulling the filler dry overnight, then sand lightly with grit sandpaper.

Apply a second coat of filler, removing the excess with the squeegee as before. When the filler is dry, sand again with grit sandpaper. Apply a finish of your choice and let it dry overnight.